Search form

Main menu

Latest news

National award for One Smithfield Square

Muse Developments’ One Smithfield Square, in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, has been named Best Apartment Building at The Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2015.

It scooped the national title at a prestigious awards ceremony at the London Marriott hotel attended by hundreds of key players in the residential property industry.

The ten-storey building comprises 77 one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as ground floor commercial space, and is the sixth phase of development at Muse’s award-winning Smithfield regeneration scheme.

Delivered in partnership with Manchester City Council, Smithfield is a major mixed-use regeneration scheme on the former site of the city’s historic fish and produce market.

Designed by respected architects Mark Weintraub Associates, delivered on site by Ryder and built by Galliford Try, the 'Puzzle Box' building is a striking new addition to the Northern Quarter’s skyline. Using a bold mix of colours, feature balconies, high quality Trespa cladding and extensive glazing, it creates visual interest in this vibrant part of the city.

The building is designed around a ‘U’ shape layout which creates an attractive landscaped courtyard, with the three different wings at different heights to reflect the adjacent buildings.

Its location and layout preserved all of the existing pedestrian routes and opened up others which were closed to pedestrians for many years, creating a natural gateway into the Northern Quarter from Swan Street and Shudehill.

Wes Erlam, development director at Muse Developments, said: “One Smithfield Square was conceived in the depths of the recession when there were no other new-build residential schemes being brought forward in Manchester. We’re delighted to win this award, as it recognises our commitment to unlocking development in the most challenging circumstances.

“This was a true partnership project which has brought inward investment to the city, has acted as a catalyst for regeneration and delivered much-needed, well-designed new homes and attractive public space for the city.”

Muse’s Smithfield regeneration scheme has delivered more than 350 apartments, two hotels and over 30,000 sq ft of ground floor space over the past 13 years and has been a catalyst for the wider revitalisation of the Northern Quarter. Previous phases include the refurbishment of the former historic fish market walls, numerous bars and restaurants, the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express hotels.

The development of One Smithfield Square has also enabled Muse to complete the final piece of the jigsaw at Smithfield, with the refurbishment of the adjacent Grade 2 listed Mackie Mayor building currently underway.